Cartridge cap

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a cartridge cap for preventing air staying in a cylindrical cartridge even if the air is sucked in during a sealing operation of the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge in which medicinal solution is filled. 
     The air which is sucked in during a sealing operation of the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge  2  is released to the outside of the cylindrical cartridge  2  through an air relief passage AR which is formed along the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion  1 B including the gap between the outer periphery of the rip portion  2 A of the cylindrical cartridge  2  and the part of the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion  1 B where no terrace shaped receiving portions  1 F,  1 F, . . . are formed. It is possible to prevent air from staying in the cylindrical cartridge  2.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cartridge cap, more specifically a cartridge cap for sealing the opening portion of a cylindrical cartridge in which medicinal solution is filled.

BACKGROUND ART

It is generally known to use a prefilled syringe in which medicinal solution is filled as a conventional syringe for an injector (see Patent Document 1). As an alternative to this kind of prefilled syringe, it is also generally known to use a conventional type of syringe which loads a prefilled cartridge in which medicinal solution is filled.

In this type of prefilled cartridge, the opening portion of a cylindrical cartridge in which medicinal solution is filled is sealed by a cartridge cap. The cylindrical cartridge incorporates a piston which is connected to a plunger. A gasket is attached to the cartridge cap, a double-ended injection needle is attached to a syringe which loads a prefilled cartridge, and the double-ended injection needle passes through the gasket.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Application, Tokkai 2008-307237

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Problems to be resolved by the Invention

In a conventional cartridge cap, it has been frequently observed that air stays in a cylindrical cartridge because there is no escape for the air which was sucked in during a sealing operation of the opening portion of a cylindrical cartridge in which medicinal solution is filled.

The present invention was made in response to this situation and an objective of the present invention is to provide a cartridge cap which can prevent air from staying in a cylindrical cartridge even if the air is sucked in the cylindrical cartridge during a sealing operation of the opening of the cylindrical cartridge in which medicinal solution is filled.

Means for solving the Problems

In order to resolve the aforementioned problem, a cartridge cap according to a first invention is constituted as a cartridge cap for sealing the opening of a cylindrical cartridge in which medicinal solution is filled, wherein a plurality of terrace shaped receiving portions are formed on the inner periphery of a cylindrical wall portion in a circumferential direction at predetermined intervals, the cylindrical wall portion continues to a top plate portion, the terrace shaped receiving portion has a joint receiving surface for jointing with the outer periphery of a flange shaped rip portion which is formed at the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge and a tucking portion for holding the rip portion between the top plate portion and the tucking portion, and an air relief passage is formed along the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion between the terrace shaped receiving portions.

In a cartridge cap according to the first invention, even if air is sucked in during a sealing operation of the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge in which medicinal solution is filled, the sucked air is let out to the outside from the gap between the outer periphery of the rip portion of the cylindrical cartridge and the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion of the cartridge cap through the air relief passage which is formed along the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion.

In a cartridge cap according to the first invention, it is preferable to form a plurality of thick portions on the outer surface of the top plate portion in a circumferential direction at predetermined intervals and set the circumferential position of each thick portion so as to correspond to the circumferential position of each air relief passage between the terrace shaped receiving portions because the strength of each portion of the cartridge caps between the terrace shaped receiving portions increases is increased.

A cartridge cap according to a second invention is constituted as a cartridge cap for sealing the opening of a cylindrical cartridge in which medicinal solution is filled, wherein a belt shaped receiving portion is formed on the inner periphery of a cylindrical wall portion continuously in a circumferential direction, the cylindrical wall portion continues to a top plate portion, the belt shaped receiving portion has a joint receiving surface for jointing with the outer periphery of a flange shaped rip portion which is formed at the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge and a tucking portion for holding the rip portion between the top plate portion and the tucking portion, and an air relief hole which passes through the cylindrical portion is formed on the joint receiving surface of the belt shaped receiving portion.

In a cartridge cap according to the second invention, even if air is sucked in during a sealing operation of the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge in which medicinal solution is filled, the sucked air is let out to the outside from the gap between the outer periphery of the rip portion of the cylindrical cartridge and the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion of the cartridge cap through the air relief hole which passes through the cylindrical portion.

In cartridge caps according to the first invention and the second invention, it is preferable to form a tucking portion which is formed on the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion in a belt shape which extends in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall portion and form a tapered surface on the periphery to guide the outer periphery of the rip portion of the cylindrical cartridge to the holding position because the rip portion can be smoothly guided to the holding position and the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge can be firmly sealed.

EFFECT OF INVENTION

In a cartridge cap according to the first invention, even if air is sucked in during a sealing operation of the opening of the cylindrical cartridge in which medicinal solution is filled, the sucked air is let out to the outside from the gap between the outer periphery of the rip portion of the cylindrical cartridge and the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion of the cartridge cap through the air relief passage which is formed along the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion. Therefore, in a cartridge cap according to the first invention, it is possible to prevent air from staying in the cylindrical cartridge even if the air is sucked in during a sealing operation of the opening of the cylindrical cartridge in which medicinal solution is filled.

In a cartridge cap according to the first invention, it is possible to increase the strength of each portion between the terrace shaped receiving portions by thick portions if a plurality of thick portions are formed on the outer surface of the top plate portion in a circumferential direction at predetermined intervals and the circumferential position of each thick portion is set so as to correspond to the circumferential position of each air relief passage between the terrace shaped receiving portions.

In a cartridge cap according to the second invention, even if air is sucked in during a sealing operation of the opening of the cylindrical cartridge in which medicinal solution is filled, the sucked air is let out to the outside from the gap between the outer periphery of the rip portion of the cylindrical cartridge and the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion of the cartridge cap through the air relief hole which goes through the cylindrical portion. Therefore, in a cartridge cap according to the second invention, it is possible to prevent air from staying in the cylindrical cartridge even if the air is sucked in during a sealing operation of the opening of the cylindrical cartridge in which medicinal solution is filled.

Furthermore, in a cartridge cap according to the second invention, it is possible to seal the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge more firmly than a cartridge cap according to the first invention because a belt shaped receiving portion is formed continuously in a circumferential direction.

In cartridge caps according to the first invention and the second invention, it is possible to guide the rip portion to the holding position smoothly and seal the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge firmly if a tucking portion is formed on the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion in a belt shape which extends in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall portion and a tapered surface is formed on the periphery to guide the outer periphery of the rip portion of the cylindrical cartridge to the holding position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a cartridge cap according a first embodiment which corresponds to a first invention together with a cylindrical cartridge.

FIG. 2 shows a knock down front view of a syringe which shows an example of using a prefilled cartridge having a cylindrical cartridge and a cartridge cap shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged front view of a cartridge cap shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of a cartridge cap shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of a cartridge cap along V-V line in FIG. 4

FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional view of a condition in which a cartridge cap according to a first embodiment sealed the opening portion of a cylindrical cartridge, and shows a cross sectional view along V-V line in FIG. 4

FIG. 7 shows a cross sectional view of a condition in which a cartridge cap according to a first embodiment sealed the opening portion of a cylindrical cartridge, and shows a cross sectional view along VII-VII line in FIG. 4

FIG. 8 shows a cross sectional view of a cartridge cap according to a second embodiment which corresponds to a second invention, and this drawing corresponds to FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 shows a cross sectional view of a cartridge cap according to a second embodiment, and this drawing corresponds to FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 shows a cross sectional view of a condition in which a cartridge cap according to a second embodiment sealed the opening portion of a cylindrical cartridge, and this drawing corresponds to FIG. 6.

A MODE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

A cartridge cap according to a first embodiment which corresponds to a first invention and a cartridge cap according to a second embodiment which corresponds to a second invention will be explained below by referring to the attached drawings.

First, a cartridge cap according to a first embodiment will be described by referring to FIG. 1-FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 1, a cartridge cap 1 according to a first embodiment is used for sealing the opening portion of a cylindrical cartridge 2 in which medicinal solution is filled. The cartridge cap 1 is to fit to a flange shaped circular rip portion 2A which is formed at the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge 2 by using a capper which is not shown in the drawing.

A piston 3 is incorporated in the cylindrical cartridge 2 for filling medicinal solution and pushing out the filled medicinal solution. The cylindrical cartridge 2 is loaded in a syringe 4 of an injector shown in FIG. 2 as a prefilled cartridge by fitting a cartridge cap 1 to the circular rip portion 2A. A connecting screw portion 5A of the tip portion of a plunger 5 is screwed in and connected to the piston 3 in the cylindrical cartridge 2.

A double-ended injection needle 6 is attached to a needle attaching portion 4A at the tip portion of the syringe 4 through a holder 7. The inner end portion of the double-ended injection needle 6 is inserted into the medicinal solution which is filled in the cylindrical cartridge 2 by passing through the top plate portion of the cartridge cap 1.

As shown in FIG. 3-FIG. 5, the cartridge cap 1 according to the first embodiment has a cylindrical wall portion 1B which continues to the top plate portion 1A and the center of the top plate portion 1A has a through hole 1D which has a tapered wall surface 1C with a larger diameter at the upper portion. Four thick portions 1E, 1E, . . . are formed on the outer surface of the top plate portion 1A surrounding the through hole 1D and function as spacers in the syringe 4 shown in FIG. 2. The thick portions 1E, 1E, . . . are equiangularly positioned in a circumferential direction of the top plate portion 1A at 90 degree intervals.

As shown in FIG. 4, four thin terrace shaped receiving portions 1F, 1F, . . . are formed on the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion 1B of the cartridge cap 1. The thin terrace shaped receiving portions 1F, 1F, . . . are equiangularly positioned in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall portion 1B at 90 degree intervals and are positioned by shifting a phase by 45 degrees in a circumferential direction with respect to the thick portions 1E, 1E, . . . which are formed on the outer surface of the top plate portion 1A. That is to say, each terrace shaped receiver portion 1F is positioned between the thick portions 1E, 1E in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall portion 1B.

As shown in FIG. 5, each terrace shaped receiving portion 1F has a roughly vertically long rectangle shape from an anterior view. A tucking portion 1G is formed in a belt shape along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall portion 1B for locking the lower edge of the circular rip portion 2A of the cylindrical cartridge 2 shown in FIG. 1 and holding the lower edge of the circular rip portion 2A between the top plate portion 1A and the tucking portion 1G. A joint receiving surface 1H is formed on the portion on the upper side of the tucking portion 1G of the terrace shaped receiving portion 1F for jointing with the outer periphery of the circular rip portion 2A of the cylindrical cartridge 2. A guiding surface 1J is formed on the portion on the lower side of the tucking portion 1G of the terrace shaped receiving portion 1F for guiding the outer periphery of the circular rip portion 2A.

The tucking portion 1G of the terrace shaped receiving portion 1F has a shelving angle section and bulges from the joint receiving surface 1H and the guiding surface 1J. A locking portion 1K is formed at the upper edge of the joint receiving surface 1H for locking the lower edge of the circular rip portion 2A (see FIG. 1) of the cylindrical cartridge 2. A tapered guiding surface 1L is formed at the lower half portion of the tucking portion 1G for guiding the outer periphery of the circular rip portion 2A toward the side of locking portion 1K.

The cartridge cap 1 according to the first embodiment configured as described above is used to seal the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge 2 in which medicinal solution is filled. Prior to the sealing operation, a gasket 8 is loaded in the cartridge cap 1 in advance for sealing the through hole 1D by contacting with the inner surface of the top plate portion 1A as shown in FIG. 5. In this condition, the cartridge cap 1 is fit to the circular rip portion 2A which is formed at the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge 2 by using a capper which is not shown in the drawing.

By this capping operation, the cartridge cap 1 is fit to the head portion including the circular rip portion 2A of the cylindrical cartridge 2 as shown in FIG. 6 and seals the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge 2 by the gasket 8 in this condition. That is to say, the cartridge cap 1 seals the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge 2 by holding the circular rip portion 2A between the locking portion 1K of the four terrace shaped receiving portions 1F, 1F, . . . which are formed on the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion 1B and the inner surface of the top plate portion 1A through the gasket 8.

The air which is sucked in the space between the cartridge cap 1 and the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge 2 during a capping operation is released to the outside of the cylindrical cartridge 2 through an air relief passage AR which is formed along the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion 1B including the gap between the outer periphery of the circular rip portion 2A of the cylindrical cartridge 2 and the part of the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion 1B of the cartridge cap 1 where no terrace shaped receiving portions 1F, 1F, . . . are formed, as shown in FIG. 7.

Therefore, in the cartridge cap 1 according to the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent air from staying in the cylindrical cartridge 2 even if the air is sucked in during a sealing operation of the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge 2 in which medicinal solution is filled.

Additionally, in the cartridge cap 1 according to the first embodiment, it is possible to increase the strength of the part of the cylindrical wall portion 1B where no terrace shaped receiving portions 1F, 1F, . . . are formed by forming the thick portion 1E, 1E, . . . because the four thick portions 1E, 1E, . . . which are formed on the outer periphery of the top plate portion 1A and the four terrace shaped receiving portions 1F, 1F, . . . which are formed on the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion 1B are positioned in a circumferential direction of the cartridge cap 1 by shifting a phase by 45 degrees and each thick potion 1E is positioned so as to correspond to the air relief passage AR which extends along the inner periphery between two terrace shaped receiving portions 1F, 1F of the cylindrical wall portion 1B as shown in FIG. 4,

In a cartridge cap 1 according to the first embodiment, it is possible to firmly seal the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge 2 by smoothly guiding the circular rip portion 2A to the holding position in a sealing operation of the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge 2, because the tucking portion 1G of each terrace shaped receiving portion 1F which is formed on the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion 1B is formed in a belt shape which extends in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall portion 1B and the tapered guide surface 1L is formed on the periphery for guiding the outer periphery of the circular rip portion 2A of the cylindrical cartridge 2 toward the side of the locking portion 1K which corresponds to the holding position.

Next, a cartridge cap according to a second embodiment will be described referring to FIG. 8-FIG. 10. Similarly to the first embodiment (see FIG. 1), a cartridge cap according to the second embodiment is used for sealing the opening portion of a cylindrical cartridge 2 in which medicinal solution is filled and the cap 1 is to fit to a flange shaped circular rip portion 2A which is formed at the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge 2 by using a capper which is not shown in the drawing.

Because the cartridge cap 11 according to the second embodiment has structural portions which are identical to those in the cartridge cap 1 according to the first embodiment, the similarly configured portions will not be described in detail by using the same reference numerals as those in the cartridge cap 1 according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, in a cartridge cap 11 according to the second embodiment, a belt shaped receiving portion 1M is formed to continue in a circumferential direction on the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion 1B. The belt shaped receiving portion 1M is formed by changing the terrace shaped receiving portion 1F which is formed in the cartridge cap 1 according to the first embodiment so as to continue in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall portion 1B. A tucking portion 1G, a joint receiving portion 1H, a guide surface 1J, a locking portion 1K and a tapered guide surface 1L are formed in the belt shaped receiving portion 1M.

A pair of air relief holes 1N, 1N which pass through the cylindrical wall portion 1B in a radial direction are formed on the joint receiving surface 1H of the belt shaped receiving portion 1M. It is preferable to form the air relief holes 1N, 1N at the center portion or on the upper side of the vertical width of the joint receiving surface 1H. In this example shown in the drawing, they are formed in an oval shape of a size which is fit within the center portion of the vertical width of the joint receiving surface 1H, for example.

The opening area of the air relief holes 1N, 1N is set to 1/10 of the entire area of the joint receiving surface 1H or larger because enough air relief effect cannot be obtained if it is too small. The opening area is also set to ⅓ of the entire area of the joint receiving surface 1H or smaller because the strength of the cartridge cap 11 decreases if it is too large.

In the cartridge cap 11 according to the second embodiment, the inner surface of the top plate portion 1A is formed as a tapered top surface 1P in which the diameter decreases toward the upward direction in order to have a structure for improving the sealing performance by pushing the outer periphery of the inserted gasket 9 against the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge 2 more tightly.

In the cartridge cap 11 according to the second embodiment configured as described above, as shown in FIG. 10, the cartridge cap 11 is to fit to the circular rip portion 2A which is formed at the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge 2 by using a capper which is not shown in the drawing. By this capping operation, the cartridge cap 11 is attached to the head portion of the cylindrical cartridge 2 including the circular rip portion 2A and then the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge 2 is sealed by the gasket 9 in this condition. That is to say, the cartridge cap 11 seals the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge 2 by holding the circular rip portion 2A between the locking portion 1K of the belt shaped receiving portion 1M which is formed on the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion 1B and the tapered top surface 1P of the top plate portion 1A through the gasket 9.

The air which was sucked in the space between the cartridge cap 11 and the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge 2 during a capping operation is released from the gap between the outer periphery of the circular rip portion 2A of the cylindrical cartridge 2 and the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion 1B of the cartridge cap 11 to the outside through a pair of air relief holes 1N, 1N which pass through the cylindrical wall portion 1B in a radial direction, as shown in FIG. 10.

Therefore, in the cartridge cap 11 according to the second embodiment, it is possible to prevent air from staying in the cylindrical cartridge 2 even if the air is sucked in by sealing the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge 2 in which medicinal solution is filled.

Additionally, in the cartridge cap 11 according to the second embodiment, it is possible to more firmly seal the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge 2 than the cartridge cap 1 according to the first embodiment because the belt shaped receiving portion 1M is formed continuously in a circumferential direction.

Furthermore, in the cartridge cap 11 according to the second embodiment, it is possible to firmly seal the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge 2 by smoothly guiding the circular rip portion 2A to the holding position when the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge 2 is sealed because the tucking portion 1G of the belt shaped receiving portion 1M which is formed on the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion 1B is formed in a belt shape which extends in a direction of the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion 1B and the tapered guide surface 1L is formed on the periphery to guide the outer periphery of the circular rip portion 2A of the cylindrical cartridge 2 to the side of the locking portion 1 k which corresponds to the holding position.

A cartridge cap according to the present invention is limited to neither the aforementioned first embodiment nor the second embodiments. For example, the four terrace shaped receiving portion 1F, 1F, . . . shown in FIG. 4 may be positioned in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall portion 1B at non-equiangular intervals which are a little bit shifted from equiangular intervals. It is also the case for the four thick portions 1E, 1E, . . . shown in FIG. 4.

The terrace shaped receiving portions 1F, 1F, . . . may be modified to three terrace shaped receiving portions 1F, 1F, . . . which are positioned in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall portion 1B at equiangular intervals of 120 degrees, for example, or they may be positioned at non-equiangular intervals which are a little bit shifted from equiangular intervals. It is also the case for the four thick portions 1E, 1E, . . . shown in FIG. 4.

Furthermore, the structure which is used to improve the sealing performance in the cartridge cap 11 according to the second embodiment, namely the structure wherein the inner surface of the top plate portion 1A is formed to decrease the diameter of the tapered top surface 1P in an upward direction can also be applied to the cartridge cap 1 according to the first embodiment.

EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE NUMBERS

1: Cartridge cap

1A: Top plate portion

1B: Cylindrical wall portion

1C: Tapered wall surface

1D: Through hole

1E: Thick portion

1F: Terrace shaped receiving portion

1G: Tucking portion

1H: Joint receiving surface

1J: Guiding surface

1K: Locking portion

1L: Tapered guide surface

1M: Belt shaped receiving portion

1N: Air relief hole

1P: Tapered top surface

2: Cylindrical cartridge

2A: Circular rip portion

3: Piston

8: Gasket

9: Gasket

11: Cartridge cap 

1. A cartridge cap for sealing the opening portion of a cylindrical in which medicinal solution is filled, wherein a plurality of terrace shaped receiving portions are formed on the inner periphery of a cylindrical wall portion in a circumferential direction at predetermined intervals, the cylindrical wall portion continues to a top plate portion, the terrace shaped receiving portion has a joint receiving surface for jointing with the outer periphery of a flange shaped rip portion formed at the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge and a tucking portion for holding the rip portion between the top plate portion and the tucking portion, and an air relief passage is formed along the inner periphery of the cylindrical wall portion between the terrace shaped receiving portions.
 2. A cartridge cap according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of thick portions are formed on the outer surface of the top plate portion at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction, and the circumferential position of each thick portion is set so as to correspond to the circumferential position of each air relief passage between the terrace shaped receiving portions.
 3. A cartridge cap for sealing the opening portion of a cylindrical in which medicinal solution is filled, wherein a belt shaped receiving portion is continuously formed on the inner periphery of a cylindrical wall portion in a circumferential direction, the cylindrical wall portion continues to a top plate portion, the belt shaped receiving portion has a joint receiving surface for jointing with the outer periphery of a flange shaped rip portion formed at the opening portion of the cylindrical cartridge and a tucking portion for holding the rip portion between the top plate portion and the tucking portion, and an air relief hole is formed on the joint receiving surface of the belt shaped receiving portion and the air relief hole passes through the cylindrical wall portion.
 4. A cartridge cap according to claim 1, wherein the tucking portion is formed in a belt shape which extends in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall portion and a tapered surface is formed on the periphery to guide the outer periphery of the rip portion.
 5. A cartridge cap according to claim 3, wherein the tucking portion is formed in a belt shape which extends in a circumferential direction of the cylindrical wall portion and a tapered surface is formed on the periphery to guide the outer periphery of the rip portion. 